California Employer Advisory Council

CEAC Best Practices

May 28, 2008

Sacramento Employer Advisory Council

A best practice of the Sacramento EAC has been to invite unemployed professionals to their monthly luncheon meetings. During each meeting, a member of the Sacramento Professional Network (SPN) is invited to speak on their behalf and petition employers for possible career opportunities. This practice keeps EDD services current in the employers' minds and helps the SPN person obtain employment leads. The SPN is a chapter of Experience Unlimited, an EDD program that assists unemployed professionals with employment.

Bob SanGregorio — Coordinator

Yuba/Sutter/Colusa Employer Advisory Council

In an effort to increase workshop participation, the Yuba/Sutter/Colusa EAC changed workshop fees from an even number: $35 to $49.95. The EAC president feels this is a good selling technique. A drawing is held at every workshop and the table centerpiece, usually a decorative plant, is given to those employers that have a blue dot placed on a object at their location.

The Yuba/Sutter/Colusa EAC determined that a best practice would be to increase the level of services provided to its members. The number of workshops offered each year was increased; a local information hotline was established; the EAC increased its participation in community activities and their involvement with youth programs; they established a quarterly EAC newsletter, and they now produce a television show dedicated to providing information for employers.

Bill Padgett — Coordinator

North Kern Employer Advisory Council

Known as the "Biggest Little EAC in Kern County," the North Kern EAC (NKEAC) instituted the following best practices. The EAC seminars provide information to the business community at-large. In the town of Delano, this is considered a community event and seminars can be held in the town's civic center at no cost to the EAC. A small fee is charged; however, depending on the event. The EAC members save $20-30. Nonmembers pay only $10-15 depending on the cost of the event to the EAC.

During each meeting, board members introduce themselves, tell what their position is on the board, where they work, and give a statement about how the EAC has benefited them. An evaluation is given to each attendee at the end of every meeting. To ensure everyone completes an evaluation, all returned evaluations are entered into a drawing.

North Kern uses speakers that DO NOT CHARGE in exchange, for lunch. "Surprisingly, this seems to work so far." One or two days before the event, members are called to confirm they will be attending the seminar. This serves as a great reminder and helps boost attendance.

Hemet Temecula Employer Advisory Council

The best practice for the Hemet/Temecula EAC has been to hold its monthly board meetings. Rain or shine meetings are not cancelled. Hemet/Temecula works constantly to recruit new board members. The EAC members believe having a strong board and an EAC/EDD coordinator who is committed and willing to go the extra mile for the group, are the most critical aspects in having a successful EAC. Subcommittees are formed to keep employers interested and to share the various tasks required in running the EAC. Currently, Hemet/Temecula has a legislative committee, a publicity committee, a marketing committee, a program committee, a hospitality committee, and a Web site committee. Each committee gives a progress report at the monthly board meeting.

Mary Williams — Coordinator

Stanislaus County Employer Advisory Council

The Stanislaus County EAC believes that their best practice has been producing a colorful, attention-getting seminar flyer. Mailed with the flyer is a detailed letter that announces each regular EAC meeting. Stanislaus also holds a business card drawing at the close of each meeting. The winner is invited to attend the next meeting without a registration fee. Another highlight of their meeting is that the legislative chairperson performs an animated, legislative update vignette. At some meetings, local personalities are used when the agenda is focused on a local subject matter. Another practice is the continuous polling of members for recommended topics of interest, and then following-up with a positive, timely response to those suggestions. Involvement of the members in events such as job fairs, veteran functions, EDD office celebrations, and inclusion on discussions regarding workforce investment and One-Stop plans also helps keep employer members interested and participating.

Carletta Steele — Coordinator

San Diego Employer Advisory Council

Due to the makeup of San Diego County, the San Diego EAC has divided into four EAC areas. These councils are strategically located throughout the north, south, east San Diego region, and metro areas. With the implementation of these localized EACs, in conjunction with the Workforce Investment Act, San Diego employers have stepped forward to become an integral part of the newly created local Workforce Investment Boards. San Diego EAC is proud to be working with the local EDD offices and the One-Stop Career Centers in the development and implementation of these employer groups.

"San Diego's annual employer conference, "Workplace" is a big success. With more than 600 attendees each year, the conference is top-ranked among human resource professionals."

Grisel Razon — Coordinator

East Bay Employer Advisory Council

The East Bay EAC now combines their recruitment letter with the dues renewal letter. The letter includes a thank you and information on the benefits provided to EAC members. Some of the benefits include the EAC newsletter, seminar discounts, access to the CEAC Management Hotline, etc. The letter also indicates the membership expiration date of existing members. This practice enables the EAC to update and keep track of their employer records.

Elaine Pannell — Coordinator

Bakersfield Employer Advisory Council

During the Bakersfield EAC quarterly breakfast meetings a basket is passed for attendees to participate in a business card drawing. Three drawings are held and each winner is given three minutes for a commercial time slot to speak on behalf of their business. On the third card drawn, the employer is also invited to the next EAC breakfast meeting at no cost. This is a great way for employers to share their business and network with others.

Cheryl Peoples — Coordinator

Lake County Employer Advisory Council

The Lake County EAC best practices include their processes for increasing membership and for notifying employers of upcoming meetings. As a membership drive, Lake County uses a software program and sends "Certificates of Membership" to all current and former members, and to those employers who have attended more than one program during the year. A dues reminder is attached for those who are current members. This mailing is done in July at the start of their program year, and most employers immediately respond by writing a check because they have already received their membership certificate.

To boost attendance at monthly meetings, announcements are mailed two weeks prior to the program. If staffing permits, two days before the meeting, members receive call as a personal reminder of the meeting. A sign-in sheet is available at every meeting, and at least once a year, a survey is distributed to everyone that has attended any of the meetings. The survey requests ideas for future meetings, speaker recommendations, and inquiries as to the convenience of the meeting time and location.

Laurel Groshong — Coordinator

San Gabriel Valley Employer Advisory Council

Education, Dedication, and Recognition is what the San Gabriel Valley EAC (SGVEAC) believes has been their best practice over the years. Since the early eighties, each year SGVEAC has cosponsored with EDD four to five educational employer seminars. Each year the SGVEAC provides financial support for community service programs, and to support EDD programs and services. The SGVEAC believes that the EAC will always be successful as long as they are committed to serving and giving special recognition to the employer volunteers and their EDD partners.

Elizabeth Solis — Coordinator

Porterville Employer Advisory Council

The restructuring of committees has made a substantial difference for the Porterville EAC in keeping EAC members involved and having them attend meetings regularly. This practice has provided an opportunity for all EAC members to share the work involved in the basic EAC operations. In 1998, the EAC Chair, Teresa Jackson, established committees comprised of EAC members to assist with the coordination of the EAC's monthly, quarterly, and annual events. The Porterville EAC currently operates with a Web page committee, a membership committee, a seminar committee, and a publicity committee.

Along with the establishment of committees, the EAC voted to charge a minimal membership fee. The fee is $25 for a single membership or $50 for a corporate membership, which includes a maximum of three corporate representatives. Membership is renewable each January on an annual basis. The membership packet includes copies of the CEAC Management Hotline, the EAC/EDD Fact Sheet, the CEAC Web site address, and use of the Porterville EAC Web board. The EAC members are also given reduced rates to attend the annual seminar and there is no cost to attend the workshops. These incentives and promotions have helped Porterville to double the size of its membership and each year they grow even more.

Jim Chavez — Coordinator

North Coast Employer Advisory Council

The North Coast Employer Advisory Council (NCEAC) has found great success by supporting EDD programs and services. The NCEAC has been a strong supporter of a local area marketing effort known as the Eureka Marketing Project. The NCEAC agreed to finance the Project if the effort included information on the NCEAC as part of its marketing efforts. With the NCEAC's financial support, the Eureka Marketing Project held eight mini employer seminars. These seminars were aggressively marketed and had a large attendance. As a result, the NCEAC gained new members after each seminar. The Eureka Marketing Project gave EDD the opportunity to market its services, such as CalJOBS and Work Opportunity Tax Credit. The NCEAC also sponsored a grocery bag advertisement for CalJOBS and the NCEAC. More than 8,000 bags were printed and distributed throughout Humboldt County by the local co-op grocery stores.

This year, the NCEAC is cosponsoring an "Employee of the Year" campaign amongst its members. Employer members submit a nomination for their best employee; the NCEAC board then selects a winner. The winning employee receives a $500 prize and is recognized at the NCEAC annual conference.

Kim Caywood — Coordinator

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